A DOUBLE celebration was held honouring two stalwarts of Kingsteignton Town Council.

Town Clerk, Mrs Carol Lakin, celebrated her 25th anniversary of working for Kingsteignton Town Council (formerly Parish Council).

Carol joined as an assistant clerk in 1995, working nine hours a week in a small office with Mrs Carolyn Moist (town clerk at the time).

Carol progressed with studying and graduated with her Certificate of Higher Education, in ‘Local Policy’ from the University of Gloucestershire in October 2005. Carol later succeeded her predecessor, Mrs Carolyn Moist, when she resigned from the council in 2008.

In January 2009, Kingsteignton gained the status of becoming a town and Carol has since led the way with her ever growing team of staff and increasing workload.

Carol returned home from a weekend away after attending her youngest son’s wedding, to a small surprise outdoor celebration in her garden with three of her staff, to receive gifts and a glass of bubbly to toast her remarkable achievement in marking 25 years.

Mayor, Cllr Dave Rollason, made a virtual presentation to Carol, of a traditional brass carriage clock, inscribed with the words ‘Presented to Carol Lakin, Town Clerk, by Kingsteignton Town Council, in grateful recognition for twenty-five years of loyal service, October 23 2020’. This was at last week’s full council meeting via Zoom with councillors and staff present.

Cllr Rollason again made a virtual presentation to Cllr Beryl Austen, a gift from all the councillors of a beautiful ‘Velvet Fragrance’ hybrid Tea Rose, saying ‘think you like roses, it’s very hardy and resilient like you Beryl!’

Also presented was a beautiful, glass ‘Lifetime Citizenship Award’, inscribed with the words ‘Presented to Councillor Beryl Austen, by Mayor David Rollason on the occasion of her 90th birthday, in appreciation of her long and valued service.’

This was also inscribed ‘from Kingsteignton Town Council’.